Programa de Turismoen Áreas Silvestres

Protegidas

Strengthening of the Sustainable Tourism Program of Wildlife Protected Areas

In year 2013, various activities that contributed to the development and strengthening of the program were carried out; these benefit relevant aspects of both Wildlife Protected Areas and Influence Areas of the National System of Conservation Areas.

Investments were made in order to improve the development of sustainable tourism, such as: infrastructure investment proposal in fifteen protected Wildlife Protected Areas and signing of the contract in order to improve eight trails in the Manuel Antonio National Park, thus promoting visits to the forest; investment allocation was also conducted with the purpose of improving the Cerro Tortuguero trail. Different offers were analyzed to enhance trails and to develop a visitor center in the Rincón de la Vieja National Park. Finally, the investment contracting process for the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and the Corcovado National Park was initiated.

Other activities developed in year 2013 were those intended to strengthen the sustainable management and planning aspects of tourism. For example, the awarding of contract to the institution responsible for the strategic aspect of the development of sustainable tourism in both Wildlife Protected Areas (WPA) and Influence Areas of the National System of Conservation Areas.

Strengthening of the Sustainable Tourism Program of Wildlife Protected Areas

On the other hand, the design was developed, as well as the process of officially establishing the methodology of handling visitor flows for the ASP and SINAC; informative brochures for the nine Protected Wildlife Areas were produced. Study allocation, depending on the capacity needs and the respective capacitation plan, were also carried out. Proposals regarding the trail signposting in Rincón de la Vieja, Tortuguero and Cahuita were made, as well as the formulation of new activities for visitors. Also, an agreement was made with the Pococí Municipality in order to finance those studies and solve the current wastewater problem of the community in Barra del Tortuguero, Pococí, Limón. Relationships with private tourism areas were established in order to define training and touristic opportunities.

Simultaneously, activities destined to strengthen the SINAC's institutional areas: management, administrative and financial system, were performed. As part of this, new professionals in tourism were recruited for the following conservation areas: Guanacaste, Tortuguero, Amistad Caribe, Osa, Pacífico Central and Arenal-Huetar Norte, as well as for the Secretaría Ejecutiva of SINAC. The latter included professionals of the following sectors: merchandising, architecture, training and administrative processes.

Finally, merchandising of Protected Wildlife areas was addressed by developing a Facebook page for SINAC, engaging in the "Vamos a turistear!" campaign developed by the ICT, participating in touristic events, designing the TOURISTOSA newsletter and establishing a brand image for the ASP.

Programa de Turismoen Áreas Silvestres

Protegidas